Aug. 16, 1983: Former Times reporter Joel Sappell reports on allegations by Detective Michael J. Rothmiller that the LAPD’s Organized Crime Intelligence Division spied on Mayor Tom Bradley, then-Atty.Gen. John Van de Kamp, and other U.S., state, county and local officials.

Yul Brynner is performing “The King and I” with his wife, Kathy Lee, at the Pantages.

David Bowie’s concert at the Forum is reviewed by Robert Hilburn. It is “the most captivatingly ambitious and warmly uplifting arena rock show here since Bruce Springsteen’s socially conscious appearances in 1981,” Hilburn says.

Rothmiller’s revelations were made in a deposition before the ACLU. He said that his duties in the division included spying on the sex lives of two officials, one of whom was suspected of being gay and the other suspected of having an extramarital affair.

He also said that information on the officials was turned over to the division’s “two man ‘political team’ ” that gave weekly briefings to then-Police Chief Daryl F. Gates. The information was used to “influence” the officials, Rothmiller said, adding that this was an LAPD practice dating to the Chief William H. Parker era.

Rothmiller’s allegations provoked a denial from LAPD Cmdr. William Booth, who said “They are not a political spy team.” Booth also accused Rothmiller of attempting to “extort” the city into granting him a disability pension.